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Columbus Mavhunga

Produced by Columbus Mavhunga

July 05, 2023
Zimbabwean Activists Launch Peaceful Elections Campaigns

The Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN) on July 1 launched a series of “Vote in Peace” concerts that are focused on promoting unity and peace - while working to rid the nation of its history of electoral violence, amid preparations of the August 23 elections where experts predict a tight race between incumbent President Emmerson Mnangagwa and main opposition Citizens Coalition for Change candidate Nelson Chamisa. For insight, VOA correspondent Columbus Mavhunga produced this report from Zimbabwe’s capital, Harare.
July 01, 2023
Zimbabwe Rights Groups Claim Opposition Crackdown

Zimbabwean human rights groups claim the government is cracking down on opposition members - quoting the "guilty" charge against lawmaker Job Sikhala for "obstruction of justice," as an example. The verdict against Sikhala has put him out of contention in the August 23 elections alongside opposition leader Jacob Ngarivhume, who is also incarcerated. For more, VOA’s Columbus Mavhunga produced this report where he detailed charges against the incarcerated opposition figures, and how government has responded to crackdown claims.
June 27, 2023
Zimbabweans Reeling as Inflation Hits 175%

HARARE —Average Zimbabweans are feeling the effects of inflation which has soared to more than 175% as the country’s weak currency — known as bond notes or ZWL — continues to lose value against the U.S. dollar.
June 22, 2023
Sudan's Warring Forces Trade Accusations Over Zimbabwe Embassy Attack

HARARE — Sudan's rival forces, the Sudanese army and the paramilitary, the Rapid Support Forces, Thursday traded accusations over the responsibility of Tuesday's attack on Zimbabwe’s embassy in the capital, Khartoum.
June 18, 2023
Zimbabwean Experts Predict Tough 2023 Election for Mnangagwa

Zimbabwean political analysts predict that the ruling ZANU-PF, and its presidential candidate Emmerson Mnangagwa, will face challenges as they seek another term in office amid a poorly performing economy and an opposition looking to capitalize on gaining support ahead of the August 23 polls. For more, VOA correspondent Columbus Mavhunga produced this report that details the positions of authorities, opposition members, and analysts.
June 12, 2023
Zimbabwe Fails to Strengthen Local Dollar

Zimbabwean economists are presenting mixed views over recent attempts by the southern African nation’s central bank to arrest the sharp depreciation of the local currency that continues to nosedive - and was trading at over $6,000 ZWL against the U.S. dollar. For more, VOA’s Columbus Mavhunga produced this report where he spoke to locals, economists and authorities who reacted to measures implemented by the central bank.
June 03, 2023
Zimbabwe Attempts to Boost Local Currency

Zimbabwe’s Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube recently signed off on measures focused on increasing demand of the local currency, while arresting demand of the U.S. dollar – developments facing resistance from local traders who lost faith in the local dollar as it continues sliding against the greenback. For more, VOA correspondent Columbus Mavhunga produced this report from Zimbabwe’s capital, Harare.
May 30, 2023
UN Special Rapporteur 'Concerned' Over Zimbabwe Rights Situation

HARARE — A United Nations special rapporteur has voiced concern about the deteriorating situation in Zimbabwe, where a number of human rights defenders and opposition activists are facing charges, with some being jailed.
May 29, 2023
Zimbabwe Called Out for Cholera Outbreak

Health experts have called out Zimbabwean authorities over a recent cholera outbreak that has taken several lives due to the consumption of unsanitary water – a development that has pushed government to urge citizens to practice good hygiene to contain the waterborne disease. For more, VOA correspondent Columbus Mavhunga speaks to experts and authorities.
May 17, 2023
Zimbabwe Uses Gold Digital Currency to Save Economy

Zimbabwean analysts are calling on the Southern African nation’s central bank to address economic challenges triggered by the government-controlled foreign-exchange market. This, before resorting to the recently launched gold-backed digital currency, which authorities hope will reduce the demand for U.S. dollars and strengthen the continuously devaluing local currency. For more, VOA’s Columbus Mavhunga speaks to experts and authorities from Zimbabwe’s capital, Harare.
May 13, 2023
Zimbabwe Records Bumper Harvest

After years of acute food shortages, ample rainfall gave Zimbabwe a great harvest for the 2022-2023 growing season, authorities say. But as Columbus Mavhunga from Mount Hampden in Zimbabwe reports, experts say the food insecurity is far from over.
April 22, 2023
Zimbabwe President, World Bank Differ on Economic Reality

Zimbabwe's President Emmerson Mnangagwa said this week the country’s economy is improving. But a World Bank report released this month said that while Zimbabwe's poverty levels are declining, they remain elevated. Columbus Mavhunga reports.
April 14, 2023
Zimbabwean Cancer Patient Rallies for Support

Zimbabwean actress Tinopona Katsande, battling cervical cancer, is making a clarion call to wealthy Zimbabweans to support those dealing with the disease in a country where the cost of treatment is high and the population has very limited knowledge of the illness. Katsande has been receiving treatment from a private hospital because state-run hospitals lack a working radiotherapy machine needed to complete treatment. ''We've got to come together to buy at least one radiotherapy machine,'' she said adding ''you cannot holistically treat cancer without a full treatment. And one important part of it is the radiotherapy without the machine. That cannot be done,'' she told VOA's Columbus Mavhunga in Harare. The number of new cancer cases has more than doubled to 7,800 from 2009 to 2019, according to Zimbabwe's latest figures. The health ministry did not confirm or deny that state-run hospitals lack working radiotherapy machines and declined a VOA interview on this issue.
April 08, 2023
Zimbabwe's Health Care Workers Condemn Anti-Foreign Recruitment Law

HARARE — Health care workers in Zimbabwe have condemned the government's plan to criminalize their recruitment to work in other countries as part of efforts to reduce a medical brain drain.
April 06, 2023
Alleged Gold Smugglers Welcome Zimbabwe’s ‘Gold Mafia’ Probe

Zimbabwean officials mentioned in an Al Jazeera documentary titled “Gold Mafia,” allegedly linking some officials in that Southern African nation to gold smuggling and money laundering, are welcoming a government plan to probe the matter. Despite the probe by authorities, critics doubt that President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administration will crack down on internal corruption and arrest authorities linked to the alleged scheme, as recently announced by Information Minister Monica Mutsvangwa. For more, VOA’s Columbus Mavhunga reports from Harare, Zimbabwe.
April 01, 2023
Zimbabweans Turning to Small Grains to Beat Climate Change

The U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization has hailed Zimbabwe's efforts to move to climate-resistant grains such as millet to improve food security. A FAO team is in Zimbabwe to promote the grains and celebrate the International Year of Millets. Columbus Mavhunga has this report from Masvingo, Zimbabwe. Camera: Blessing Chigwenhembe.
March 13, 2023
Zambia Cashes in on Zimbabwe’s Land Seizures

Zambian authorities report that their nation is cashing in on Zimbabwean farmers that left their nation after former President Robert Mugabe’s administration instituted land seizures for redistribution two decades ago. Authorities add that the farmers are now exporting food to Zimbabwe amid struggles with food insecurity which experts say traces back to the redistribution program. For more, VOA’s Columbus Mavhunga speaks to farmers and authorities from Chisamba, Zambia.
March 07, 2023
‘Floods Have Left Over 400,000 Homeless’: Zambian Authorities

Zambian authorities say recent floods they call the worst witnessed by the Southern African nation in half a century have left at least 400,000 people homeless and nearly 109 hectares of land with crops have been submerged resulting from the heavy rains that have pushed people into living in makeshift shelters. For more, VOA’s Columbus Mavhunga speaks to locals and authorities from the capital, Lusaka.
February 25, 2023
Low Water Levels Cause Power Cuts in Zambia, Zimbabwe

Zambians and Zimbabweans have been suffering long hours of power loss since water levels at the Kariba hydropower dam plunged to an all-time low in December. Columbus Mavhunga reports from Zambia, which plans to build a $2 billion solar power project to address the situation.
February 24, 2023
Zimbabweans Flood Zambian Hospitals

Zambian health authorities report that Zimbabweans living on the border between the two nations are depleting their health care resources as they account for a third of patients in several hospitals and clinics.

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